We are continuing our look at Ohio State football players who are eligible for the 2021 NFL draft. Tuf Borland is one of those linebackers who flashes enough for a team to draft him, but frustrating enough to wonder how far he can really go. Borland will need to add size at the next level if he wants to find a permanent home or be more than a special teams contributor and depth player. He can find a role easily, but he will have to take another step.
Borland can play in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 scheme, so that adds some value to his stock. His ability to line up a ball carrier to tackle will help with special teams. He should get drafted, but will probably be a later round pick with a team looking for depth. Using him in the right way will help him stick to a team.
NEXT … The pros to drafting Tuf Borland
The positives to drafting Tuf Borland
Nearly an interception for Tuf Borland pic.twitter.com/TA0QTwjsqr
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) January 30, 2021
Borland is a tough competitor who does not give up on a play. If he can get to a gap and turn his shoulders to the line, he is good at finding the ball carrier and attacking. While Borland is not the fastest guy, he does well in short spaces and exploding toward the line. Keeping himself coming downhill will probably be the best fit for Borland early to find a home in the NFL, and he should be a fit on obvious running situations.
Borland in zone coverage does well to recognize the play and maintains average ability to cover his area. His awareness is solid and you can see flashes of his ability from before his injury. If Borland can add a few pounds it could help him with his love of physical play.
The cons to drafting Borland…
The cons to drafting Tuf Borland…
Ain’t no way LB should let a RB do him dirty like this…. Lawd 🧐 pic.twitter.com/JFWjiX3dHs
— Coach Carlos Whitmire SR. (@CoachWhitmire) January 30, 2021
For all the toughness Borland likes to bring, his size is an issue. At times he will get out of control and allow his body to be pulled off-balance. He has adequate hips, but after his leg injury, his speed is noticeably lacking. He will needs to add size and increase his speed for the next level. Easier said than done.
In coverage, Borland has shown some ability, but due to his lack of top-end speed, is a little bit of a liability in man coverage. His consistency is lacking and this will likely drop his stock as teams figure out whether they can get him to be more consistent against the pass. His range is not sideline to sideline, and he will excel in a relatively smaller box against traffic.
Borland will intrigue some teams if they look at him before his injury. His leadership and toughness will certainly get him drafted and special teams will be vital for Borland to make a roster. He should go late in the draft as whatever team drafts him hopes he develops into a core depth player in a few years.
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